Ferdinand ‘Fred’ Merck

Aug. 19, 1926-March 14, 2014

March 16, 2014

He was born on Aug. 19, 1926, in Karlsruhe, to Jacob and Regina (Boehm) Merck. He was raised on the family farm and educated in Karlsruhe.

Fred entered the Army and was discharged honorably in 1947. He married Kathleen Schiff, of Norwich, on June 4, 1951.

Fred worked for the federal service of the United States Air Force and retired on Aug. 29, 1986, after 29 years of faithful service. He was chief of the material storage and distribution branch of the 91st Supply Squadron at Minot Air Force Base. He was selected as the Strategic Air Command's outstanding U.S. Air Force Supply Civilian Supervisor of the Year for 1985.

Fred was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, in Minot, where he was an usher for many years. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, painting, spending time with family and was an expert Nintendo and Wii player.